Kraft Foods acquired Cadbury in 2010 after a controversial takeover valued at about $19.5 billion.
Cadbury began in Birmingham in 1824 when John Cadbury opened a tea, coffee and drinking-chocolate business. The company became a major confectionery manufacturer and developed iconic products including Dairy Milk, introduced in 1905. Cadbury also had a strong identity in Britain and other markets, which made the takeover politically and culturally sensitive.
Kraft Foods first made an unsolicited approach in 2009 and completed the acquisition in February 2010. Critics worried about factory closures, employment and the future of British manufacturing. Kraft Foods later split in 2012 into Mondelez International, focused on snacks, and Kraft Foods Group, focused mainly on grocery products. Cadbury became part of Mondelez, while the company’s famous British heritage remained central to its brand identity.